‘En Yahav, Survey

Oren Shmueli

23/02/2010

Final Report

During September 2007, a survey prior to development was conducted west of Moshav ‘En Yahav in the central ‘Arava (Permit No. A-5233; map ref. 2214–7/5067–70), prior to the construction of a residential neighborhood. The survey, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by Moshav ‘En Yahav, was performed by O. Shmueli and E. Aladjem, with the assistance of S. Gal (GIS).

The survey area (Fig. 1) is c. 2 km northwest of Nahal Ha-‘Arava. A temporary encampment site (Nahal Neqarot site) dating to the Early Islamic period, which was partially damaged in the past by infrastructure work, is located within the survey area. The site is part of a series of settlements from the Umayyad period (seventh–eighth centuries CE) that include farmsteads (Nahal Ha-‘Arava site) and khans (‘En Marzev site), which developed close to the sources of water in the ‘Arava.

Two stone circles (Fig. 1:1) and two stone heaps (Fig. 1:2) were documented in the survey. The stone circles (diam. 1.6 m), c. 30 m apart, are located c. 50 m east of the approach road to the Moshav. They are built of small stones and preserved a single course high. Body fragments of cooking pots that dated to the Early Islamic period were collected near the circles. The two stone heaps, situated 8 m apart, are c. 200 m east of the approach road to the Moshav. They are elliptical (height 0.3 m) and built of medium-sized fieldstones, some of which are embedded in the ground. It is possible that the stone heaps cover tombs of nomads that were dug into the ground.